Two suspected Pakistani terrorists killed in Noida (Lead)

Noida, Jan 25 (IANS) Two suspected Pakistani terrorists were shot dead by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) in this suburb of the national capital early Sunday, a day ahead of India’s Republic Day, the police said.The incident took place at 2.15 a.m. in Sector 97 when the suspected terrorists were intercepted while they were travelling in a white Maruti 800 car, Additional Director General of Police (Uttar Pradesh ATS) Brij Lal said at a press conference in Lucknow.

“The terrorists opened fire at the ATS team, which fired back at them. The driver of the car lost control and went off the road. Then the police team took cover behind a road divider and fired at them. During the gun battle, ATS officer Vinod Kumar Singh sustained a bullet injury,” Brij Lal said.

The terrorists were injured in the shootout and they were taken to hospital, where they were declared brought dead, he added.

Brij Lal said: “The two were identified as Abu Ismail of Rawalkot and Farookh alias Ali Ahmed of Rahimyar Khan in Pakistan.”

The police are trying to find out the local contacts of the terrorists, he added.

Two AK-47s, five hand grenades, RDX, detonators, Pakistani passports, 120 live cartridges and Rs.18,000 in cash were recovered from the suspected terrorists, the officer said.

“The number plate of the car was found to be that of a Bajaj Chetak scooter owned by a Ghaziabad resident,” said Inspector Anil Samania of Noida police.